Switch mechanism



Aug. 1, 1950 SCHAEFER 2,516,922

SWITCH MECHANISM Filed March 28, 1947- INVENTOR. BY fMyM,

Patented Aug. 1 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

My invention relates in general to a throw-out switch for disconnecting the starting windings of an electric motor when the motor has reached a predetermined speed and in particular to a centrifugally operated throw-out switch which may be actuated by the shaft of a motor.

It is often advisable to use an electric motor which has a starting winding to obtain a. high torque at the starting of the motor and at low running speed of the motor. When the motor has reach a predetermined speed, the starting winding may be disconnected. Therefore, it is an object of my invention to provide a quick acting throw-out switch for disconnecting the starting winding of an electric motor.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a centrifugally operated quick-acting throwout switch which may be connected to a motor shaft to disconnect the starting winding of the motor when the motor reaches a predetermined speed.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a centrifugally operated quick-acting throwout switch which may be connected to a motor shaft to disconnect and connect an electrical circuit when the motor reaches a predetermined speed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a knife edge, on which the actuating member may pivot, by punching an opening through a support portion and bending that support portion at the opening whereby a wall of the opening and the surface of the support portion form the knife edge therebetween.

Another object of my invention is to provide the actuating member and support bracket with interlocking surfaces which prevent them from becoming disconnected while fastened to the motor shaft.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a centrifugaily operated quick-acting switch having a spring which restrains actuation of the switch until the motor has reached a predetermined speed, and which rapidly decreases the restraining effect of the spring when the switch begins to actuate.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a switch with a blade having a press member fastened thereto and on which an actuating member may be moved without varying the force exerted on the blade by movement of the actuating member.

Another object of my invention is to provide an actuating device in which the restraining force against pivotal movement rapidly decreases as .the actuating member is pivotally moved away rotates therewith and in which an actuating member is pivotally mounted on the support bracket to operate the switch when the motor shaft reaches a predetermined speed.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a support bracket for pivotally supporting an actuating member in which a portion of the bracket has an opening therethrough with a wall of the opening and the surface of that portion forming a pivot knife edge therebetween.

Another object of my invention is to provide a support bracket having a pivot knife edge on which an actuating member may be pivotally mounted with the pivot knife edge formed in a tab portion by the intersection of the wall of an opening and a surface of the tab when the tab is in a plane at an angle to the plane of the support bracket.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a blade for a switch in which a press member is fastened to the blade at the most advantageous point to give minimum change in operating pressure as the blade bends under the influence of the operating pressure, regardless of the point on the press member that the operating pressure is applied.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a blade through which a shaft may extend and pressure may be exerted on the blade at any point about the shaft without exerting excessive internal strain in the blade.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a blade for a switch in which a press member is fastened to the blade for preventing excessive bending and thereby breakage of the j 7 blade.

holding the switch closed;

Figure 3 is a front-elevational view of my actuating device;

Figure 4 is a back-elevational view of my actuating device;

Figure is a side-elevational view of my throwout switch showing the actuating member pivoted away from the shaft to allow the switch to be open;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlargement along the lines 6-6 of Figure 3, illustrating the pivot knife edge;

Figure 7 is a back elevational view of a modification of my actuating device; and

Figure 8 is a side elevational View ofmy modified actuating device.

My centrifugally operated throw-out switch, for disconnecting the starting winding of an electrical motor when the shaft of the motor reaches a predetermined speed, comprises ingeneral an actuating device it and a switch l i. actuating device it is carried by'the motor shaft M. The switch ii may be supported by amo'tor housing, or other suitable support means. The actuating device it operates to hold the switch i l closed until the motor shaft 16 reaches a prcdetermined speed. 'The position of the actuating device in relation to the switch H while the switch is closed is best illustrated in Figure 2 of my drawings. When the motor reaches the predetermined speed the. actuating device 50 operates to release the switch I I and allow it to open, as illustrated in Figure 5, thus disconnecting the starting winding of the motor. Although I am describing my preferred centrifugally operated throw-out switch for specifically disconnecting the starting Winding of an electric motor, I do not thereby limit the use of my invention. A throw-out switch embodying the features of my invention may be employed with rotating mecha nisms to connect or disconnect an electrical circuit.

My centrifugally operated actuating device it, as illustrated in the drawing, comprises a sup* port bracket i5 secured to themotor shaft i i, an actuating member It pivotally mountedon the? support bracket [5, and springs ll operatively interconnecting the support bracket l5 and actuating member It. When the motor shaft Hi reaches a predetermined speed, the actuating member i6 is thrown out from .the motor shaft. l4 and against the urgency of the spring if by centrifugal force exerted on the actuating memher [6. This centrifugal force, tending to throwthe actuating member I6 away from the shaft 14, causes the actuating member l6 topivot on the support bracket I 5.

The support bracket I'5 has an opening 28 therein through which the'motor shaft it extends. Although other methods, such for one. ampleas welding or brazing may be used, I have secured the support bracket IE to the motor shaft is by a press fit. The support bracket l5 may be constructed from sheet .metal, or other suitable material. A weighted portion 2| of the support bracket 15 extends outwardly from the motor shaft is on one side thereof and has weights 22 fastened thereto. These weights 22 may be of any suitable material; and have correct weight values to substantially balance the actuating de- Vice 1!! on the motor shaft I4. The stop portion 23 is providedon the opposite side of the motor shaft I4 and is an integral portion of the support bracket I 5. As is illustratedin Figure} of my drawings, this stop portion 23 is designed to stop movement of the actuating member 58 after it has been pivotally thrown away from the motor shaft M by the centrifugal forceexerted thereon. f

For purposes of description, I have indicated a The center line 2%. in Figures 3 and 4 of my drawings which extends through the center of the shaft [4 and from the weighted portion 2! to the stop portion 23 of the support bracket It. Support portions 25 are located on either side of this center line 24 and extending outwardly from the shaft It. These support portions 25 of the support bracket i5 and the weighted portion 2i have their surfaces substantially in a plane, which may be'referred to s the plane of the support bracket 15. The support bracket i5 is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the motor shaft [4.

The actuating member It must suddenly throw out or pivot away from the motor shaft I l without any hesitation to have my centrifugally operated throw-out switch disconnect the starting Winding surface at the predetermined speed. I have provided a pivot knife edge incorporated in the support bracket [5 for the actuating member 36 to pivot on. These sharp knife edges 29, on which the actuating member 45 pivots, are incorporated in a tab portion 28 of each support portion 25. An opening 27 is punched through the support portion 25 and the tab portion 26. The tab portion 2E is bent at this opening 2'! and relative to the support portion 25 whereby the Y the motor shaft It. For descriptive purposes I have designated the actuating member if? as having a center portion 36 with a side portion 35 on either side thereof. This center portion 33 and the side portion 35 saddle or extend partially about the motor shaft i l. The side portions 35 have arm portions 38 integral therewith and'disposed to engage the knife edges 29 on the support bracket I5. When the actuating member is in its initial position, the arm portions 38 are disposed on opposite sides of the motor shaft and with their center line substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft when the switch is closed. When the motor reaches a predetermined speed and the actuating member It is thrown out from or snapped away from the shaft, the center line of the arm portions 38 will be at an angle to the axis of the shaft.

I have discovered that by bending the tab portions of the support bracket I can pivot the arm portions 38 on the knife edge 25? without hitting either the wall 28 of the opening 27 or the surface of the tab portion. The angle at which the tab should be bent relative to the support portion depends on the degree of pivot movement of the arm portions 38. In Figure 6 of my drawings, I

have illustrated an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional view of the tab portion 26 and the support portion 25 with the arm portion 38 engaging the knife edge 29.

. with the centerline thereof substantially parallel to the plane of the bracket [5. The ends of the hooks 39 may then be inserted through the openings 21. However, when thus assembled, and the bracket l5 inserted on the shaft l5, the arm portions 38 are held at an angle to the plane of the bracket l5, and the hook ends 39 cannot be withdrawn through the openings 21 I I have provided'the armportions 38 of the actuating member' lfi with notches 33. These notches pivotally engage thek'nife edge 29 and prevent the arm portion 38 sliding thereon. The sides of the notch are spaced-to permit the required pivotal movement of the'actuating member 16 on the sharp knife edge 23. The spring H is fastened to the arm portion 38 by inserting one end of the spring 38 through a spring opening 34 in the arm portion 381' The other end of the spring is similarlyfastened to the weighted portion of the support bracket. This spring opening 34 in thearm portion 38 is located between the notch 33 and the side portion 35 of the actuating member-l6. When the motor is rotating at a speed below the predetermined speed the spring holds the actuating member [6 against the motor shaft 4. The position of the actuating member 16 and the spring I! when the motor is running below-the predetermined speed is best illustrated in Figure-2 of my drawings. The force of the spring exerted to hold the actuating member l6 against the motor shaft l4 and thus hold the switch H closed is greatest when the motor is rotating below the predetermined speed. At this time the urgency or restraining tension of the spring, or that force exerted by the spring on the arm portion 38 is substantially perpendicular to the arm portions 38 and in a line at a maximum distance from the pivot knife edge 29. When the actuating member I6 is thrown out from the motor shaft [4 by centrifugal force, thereby causing it to y; thereof. I-have provided a brace 48 extending pivot about the sharp knife edge 29, the distance between the lines of force exerted by the spring and the knife edge 29 decreases. As this distance decreases the effect of the urgency of the spring on holding the actuating member [6 against the motor shaft l4 decreases. Thus it can be seen that the combination of the centrifugal force exerted on the actuating member I6 with the decrease in the urgency of the spring to retain the actuating member [6 against the motor shaft will cause the actuating member IE to substantially throw out from the shaft. By using this combination of the centrifugal force and the decreasing urgencyof the spring on the actuating member, I have been able to construct I an actuating device which will quickly act with snap-like operation. The actuating member I6 will throw out or snap away from the motor shaft 14 exactly at the predetermined speed and with out any hesitancy to allow the switch H quickl open and thereby disconnect the starting windings exactly at that predetermined speed.

The center portion 36 of my actuating member 16 has stop fibers 31 fastened thereto. These stop fibers 3'! ride the motor shaft l4 when the switch is closed with the actuating member [3 against the motor shaft. When the'actuating member l6 snaps or pivots away from the motor shaft 14', the stop fibers 31 engage the stop portion 23 of the support bracket [5. The amount of pivotal movement of the actuating member [6 between the motor shaft [4 and the stop portion 23 may be controlled by varying the dimensions of these stop fibers. In actual practice I have constructed these stop fibers of leather or other similar material which will not damage the shaft as it rotates.

Riders 3 I, constructed of fibrous or other similar material. are fastened to the-side portions 35 of the actuating member I 6 to engage the switch H while the actuating member [6 is positioned against the motor shaft l4. Balance weights may be fastened to the side portions to cooperate with the resisting tension or urgency of the springs ll for setting the actuating member l6, whereby it throws out or snaps pivotally from the motor shaft 14 at a desired predetermined speed. The combination of these balance weights and the springs I! maybe used to adjust the actuating device I0.

My switch II, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises in general a contact member 48 and a blade 4! supported by an insulation support member 42. The insulation supportmember 42 may be fastened to the motor framework or other structure and has an opening 43 through which the shaft 14 of the motor extends. The contact member is fastened on one end of the support member'42 and the blade 4! is fastened on the other end of the support member 42. A stop member 50 may be fastened to the support member 42 to control movement of the blade. The blade moves between the contact '1 member 4f! and this stop member 58. The switch may be connected to any electrical circuit by fastening circuit wires 5! to the contact member 40 and to the blade 4|.

The blade 4! is described as having side arm portions merging into acontact portion 49 which contacts the contact member M. The side arm portions 44 extend one on either side of the motor shaft l4' and have substantially U-shaped fastening portions '45 on I the fastening ends between the side arm portions 44 to cause the blade to completely encircle the shaft 14. The

purpose of this substantially U-shaped fasten ing portion 45 is to provide a longer springing action in the switch blade 4lwithout having to increase the over-all length of the switch blade 4|. By thus substantially increasing the length of the springing action of the blade 4!, breakage at the point of fastening the blade to the support member 42 is materially decreased. These fastening portions 45 have one end integrally merging with the side arm portions and the brace 48 and the other end secured by rivets'or other suitable means to the support member 62.

A press member 47 extends about the shaft l4.

switch blade 4 I with the contact portion 49 against the contact member 43 without springing the blade back and forth as the riders 3| are rotated by the motor shaft 84. As is best illustrated in Figure 2, the press member 4'! has a substantially flat surface which the riders 3i engage. The blade 4| springs or bends to insure a contact closure of the switch II when the riders 31 are engaging the blade 46.

When the motor shaft 14 reaches the predetermined speed, the actuating member 16 suddenly pivots away from or throws out from the motor Shaft l4 and against the urgency of the spring Ilto permittheswitch II to open, asillustrated.

in Figure 5. While the motor shaft I4 is rotating at or above this predetermined speed, the centrifugal force exerted will cause the actuatingmember IE to continue its position awayfrom the motor shaft I4, thus permitting the switch I I to:

remain open. The contact portion 49 is held against the stop member 50 by the urgency of the blade 4I while the switch is open. As soon-as the speed of the motor drops below this predetermined speed, the spring I'Iwill pull the actuating member If; against the motor shaft I4 thus causing the switch I I to reconnect the starting winding of the motor.

Many times it is desirable to have a centriiugally operated throw-out switchwhich may be connected to a motor to connect a circuit when the motor reaches a predetermined speed. This maybe accomplished by connecting thelead wire 5| to the stop 50 and disconnecting'it from the contact member 4|. In other words the contact member 4| and the stop 50 are reversed whereby the switch will be open when the actuating mem-- ber I6 is against the blade. The actuating member IE will be against the blade when the motor is at a standstill or when running below a predetermined speed. When the motor is running at the predetermined speed or above the predetermined speed, the actuating member will be pivotally moved away from the blade thus permitting the switch to close. It is understood that my throwout switch may be connected to any type motor having a revoluble shaft and may be used to connect or disconnect any electrical circuit.

In Figures 7 and 8 of my drawings I illustrate a modification of my actuating device. This modified actuating device III) may be carried by the motor shaft I4. As with the preferred actuating device It my modified centrifugally operated actuating device IIII comprises a support bracket II5 adapted to be secured to the motor shaft I4, a modified actuating member I I6 pivotally mounted on the support bracket I I5 and springs I I! operatively interconnecting the modified support bracket H5 and the modified actuatin member I I6. The supportbracket I I5 has an opening 20 thereinthrough which the motor shaft.

I4 extends. Although other methods, such for example as welding or brazing, may be used I. have secured the support bracket II5 to the motor shaft I 4 by a pressed fit. As with the preferred embodiment of my invention, my modified,

actuating device and support bracket. may be constructed from sheet metal or other suitable material.

The stop portion I23is integrally connected to the support bracket H5 and extends outwardly from the shaft I4 on one side thereof. The stop portion I23 has a stop fiber I31 fastened thereto,

thrown away from the motor shaft I4. In my.

modified actuating member I I6, I have a rider portion I I! which rides the motor shaft I4. This rider portion as indicated in Figures 7 and 8 may be formed by pressing a recessinto the actuating member I I6 and engages the motor shaft I4 when the switch is closed with the actuating member IIIi against themotor shaft I4.

The actuating member.

I have alsosimplified construction of my actuating member II6 by constructing it as a somewhatxchannel shaped member having a center portion I36 and; side portions I35. The rider portion II! is disposed in the center portion I36.

The riders I3I which are similar to the riders 3| in the preferred embodiment of my invention are fastened to the side portions I35 of the modified actuating member I It to engage the switch II while the actuating member H6 is positioned against the motor shaft I 4. In general operation my modified actuating device, as illustrated in Figures '7 and 8, is synonymous with my preferred actuating device as illustrated in Figures 1 through 6.

In all embodiments of my invention, an important feature isthe relation between the direction of the centrifugal actuating force and the direction of that force that the actuating member exerts to maintain pressure on the switch press member 41. It will be observed by reference to Figure 2 that the pressure exerted by the actuating member I6 on the press member 41 of the switch is substantially at right angles to the direction of the centrifugal force tending to move the actuating member I6. That is, the press member 41 pushes longitudinally against the actuating member I6, and therefore does not produce any tendency to pivot the actuating member I6 upon the knife edge 29.

It is obvious that being at right angles to the forces required to move theactuating member outwardly from the shaft, the reaction force of the switch bladev can have no effect on the speed at which the actuating member begins to open. The important result of this arrangement is that the calibration of the centrifugally actuated member is substantially unaffected by variations in axial adjustment or strength of the switch blade. 1

When the actuating member I6. begins to move outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force, the right angle relationship of forces no longer holds, butthis is immaterial, because once the member It has started to move outwardly, all forces including the reaction of the press memher 4'! will act to cause the outward motion of the actuating arm IE to accelerate. Thus, the snap action movement of the actuating member I6 is aided once movement has begun, but is unafiected until centrifugal force actually starts the outward movement.

Although I have described my invention in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed;

What is claimed is:

1. A throw-out switch for disconnecting the starting winding of an electric motor when the motor, reaches a predetermined speed, said throwout switch comprising,a support bracket adapted to be secured to the shaft of said motor to revolve therewith, a switch having an insulation support member carrying a contact member, a blade including arm portions each having one end thereof fastened to said support member and having the other endthereof merging'into a contact portion engageable with said contact member, and an actuating member, pivotally mounted on said support bracket for. actuating said blade against said contact member, the axis of said pivotal 1nounting of the actuating member on the support member extending in a line substantially intersecting the axis of theshaft when the support member is secured thereto.

2. A throw-out switch for disconnecting the starting winding of an electric motor when the motor reaches a predetermined speed, said throwout switch comprising, a support bracket adapted to be secured to the shaft of said motor to revolve therewith, a switch having an insulation support member carrying a contact member, a blade including arm portions each having one end thereof fastened. to said support member and having the other end. thereof merging into a contact portion engageable with said contact member, a press member carried by said arm portions and fastened thereto between the contact portion and the end fastened to the support member, and an actuating member pivotally mounted on said support bracket and engageable with said press member, said actuating member pivoting away from said press member, the axis of said. pivotal mounting of the actuating member on the support member extending in a line substantially intersecting the axis of the shaft when the support member is secured thereto.

3. A blade for an electrical switch comprising, a first arm and a second arm, said arms each having a fastening portion on one end thereof doubling back on itself, the other ends of said arms being integral thus forming a contact portion, a press member disposed between said first and second arms and means for pivotally securing said press member to the first and second arms substantially intermediate said contact portion and said fastening portion. 1

4. An electrical switch comprising, a contact member, a blade, insulation support means for supporting said contact member and said blade in operative relationship, means for securing said contact member to a first end of the support, said blade having arm portions integral at one end thereof thus forming a contact portion at one end thereof and terminating in fastening portions at the other ends thereof, each of said fastening portions of the said arms doubling back thereon, means for securing the fastening portions to a second end of the insulation support, a press member disposed in the plane of said arms and therebetween, and means for pivotally securing said press member to said arms intermediate the ends thereof.

5. In a switch adapted to be operated by an actuating device secured to the shaft of a motor, the provision of, a blade disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and having a center portion extending about the shaft, said blade having a contact portion integral with the center portion and extending outwardly therefrom and having substantially U-shaped fastening portions, one end of each of the said U-shaped fastening portions being integral with the center portion and substantially opposite the contact portion, the other end of each of the U-shaped fastening portions being secured to a switch support, a press member pivotally secured to the center portion on opposite sides thereof with the line of securement substantially perpendicular to a line drawn between the contact portion and the fastening portions of the blade, said press member cooperating with the actuating member to move the blade for operating the switch while the actuating member is being rotated on the shaft.

6. In a'throw-out switch for disconnecting the starting winding of an electric motor when the shaft of the motor reaches a predetermined speed, the provision of a support bracket adapted to be secured to the motor shaft and rotate therewith, said support bracket having a weightable portion on one side thereof extending outwardly from the shaft, saidsupport bracket having support portions extending outwardly therefrom on opposite side thereof and annularly spaced one on either side of the weight/able portion, said support portions and said weightable portion being in a first plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of theshaft, said support portions each having a tab portion with an opening therein, said tab portions being in a second plane disposed at an angle to the first plane, a wall of said opening and one surface of the tab forming a knife edge therebetween, an actuating member having extending portions engaging the knife edges in the tabs, said knife edges coextending in a line intersecting substantially theaxis of the shaft, said extending portions being normally disposed substantially parallel to theaxis of the shaft, and spring means between said extending portions and said weightable portion of the support bracket to normally hold the actuating member against the shaft.

'7. An actuating device comprising, a support bracket for pivotally supporting an actuating member, said support bracket having at least a tab portion disposed at an angle to the support bracket, said tab portion, having an opening therein defining a wall within said tab portion and-at substantially a right angle to the surface of said tab portion, said wall and said surface forming a knife edge therebetween and on which the said actuating member may be pivotally supported substantially ata right angle to the support bracketsaid knife edges coextending in a line intersecting substantially the axis of the shaft, and spring means'connected to said actuating member at a lever arm length from said knife edges and to said support bracket for restraining pivotal movement of said actuating member, the lever arm length decreasing as the actuating member pivots from a position substantially at right angles to the support bracket.

8. A centrifugal switch mechanism attachable to the shaft of a motor, said mechanism comprising, a switch having a blade means, a support adapted to be rotatably carried by the shaft and having pivot edges in the same plane as and coextending in a line intersecting substantially the axis of the shaft, arms extending in said plane and. between the pivot edges and the blade means and contacting the blade means substantially in said plane when said shaft is rotating below a predetermined speed, and weighted means carried by said arm for centrifugally pivoting said arms out of said plane and away from said switch blade means.

9. A centrifugal switch mechanism attachable to the shaft of a motor, said mechanism comprising a switch support member carrying a contact member and carrying a blade including arm portions each having one end thereof fastened to said support member and having the other end thereof merging into a contact portion engageable with said contact member, a press member carried by said arm portions and fastened thereto between the contact portion and the end fastened to the support member, a support adapted to be rotatably carried by the shaft and having pivot edges in the same plane as and coextending in a line intersecting substantially the axis of the shaft, arms extending in said plane between the pivot edges and the press member and contacting the press member substantially in said plane when said shaft is rotating below a predetermined speed, and weighted means carried by said arms for centrifugally ivoting said arms out of said plane and away from said press member.

10. A centrifugal switch mechanism attachable to the shaft of a motor, said mechanism comprising, a switch having a blade means, a support adapted to be rotatably carried by the shaft and having pivot edges in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft and coextending in a line intersecting substantially the axis of the shaft, arms extending in said plane and between the pivot edges and the blade means and contacting the blade means substantially in said plane when said shaft is rotating below a predetermined speed, and weighted means carried by said arm for centrifugally pivoting said arms out of said plane and away from said switch blade means.

11. A centrifugal switch mechanism attachable to the shaft of a motor, said mechanism comprising a switch support member carrying a contact member and carrying a blade including arm portions each having one end thereof fastened to said support member and having the other end thereof merging into a contact portion engageable with said contact member, a press member carried by said arm portions and fastened thereto between the contact portion and the end fastened to the support member, a support adapted to be rotatably carried by the shaft and having pivot edges in a plane substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft and coextending in a line intersecting substantially the'axis of the shaft, arms extending in said plane between the pivot edges and the press member and contacting the press member substantially in said plane when said shaft is rotating below a predetermined speed, and weighted means carried by said arms for centrifugally pivoting said arms out of said plane and'away from said press member.

12. A blade for an electrical switch comprising,

a first arm and a second arm, said arms each having a fastening portion on one end thereof, the other ends of said arms being connected together thus forming a contact portion, a press member disposed between said first and second arms and means pivotally securing said press member to the first and second arms substantially intermediate said contact portion and said fastening portion.

13. An electrical switch comprising, a contact member, a blade, insulation support means for supporting said contact member and said blade in operative relationship, means for securing said contact member to a first end of the support, said blade having arm portions integral at one end thereof thus forming a contact portion at one end thereof and terminating in fastening portions at the other ends thereof, means for securing the fastening portions to a second end of the insulation support, and a press member pivoted to said arms and extending therebetween.

14. An electrical switch comprising, a contact, a blade, an insulation support supporting said contact and said blades in operative relationship, said blade having arms terminating in fastening portions on one end thereof, means for securing said fastening portions to said insulation support at a distance from said contact, a contact portion connecting the other ends of the arms of said blade and engageable with said contact, and a press portion pivotally joined to the said arms and extending therebetween.

EDWARD J. SCI-IAEFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,180,022 Streck Nov. 14, 1939 2,184,412 Conley Dec. 26, 1939 2,215,294 Morrill Sept. 17, 1940 2,243,577 Pepper May 27, 1941 2,305,441 Pepper Dec. 15, 1942 

